This May Not Be What You Expect
I pride myself on not doing clickbait. You won’t find headlines like, “Three Crazy Facts About Tiger Woods” on this site. However, I fear that this article is not going to be what you expect based on the headline. But expectations be damned, I think this is going to help you play better golf.
This Lesson Is For You If:
You are a golfer
Why All Golfers Should Lift Weights
This lesson has nothing to do with the physical reasons for lifting weights. There are many, and I may discuss them in the future, but this is about what lifting will do for your mind. Here are five lessons you will learn from lifting that will make you a better golfer.
Progress Is Not Linear
I’m always jealous of people who are new to lifting. They get to experience “beginner gains” – that stage where every workout comes with new personal records.
But after that initial burst – however long it lasts – progress becomes harder to find. You may stall out for a week or a month. You may not see any substantial progress for a year. If you’re not willing to change the work you’re doing, you may be at the same level for the rest of your life.
On a more optimistic note, you may also level up when you’re not expecting it. After weeks of struggling with the same weight, one day it will feel like nothing.
For both good and bad, progress is not linear in weight lifting or golf.
Unexpected Gains and Letdowns
Just as progress is not linear, progress is not predictable. There will be times when, after a week of stellar workouts, you show up and can barely lift the bar. On the other hand, you may come back to the gym after a week of being sick, out of town, or injured and hit a personal best.
Knowing this can keep you from getting too high or too low. Keep your expectations to a minimum. Give what you have every day. Enjoy the ride.
Personal Bests are Rare
Once you’re “trained” – meaning that you’ve lifted for a while – hitting personal bests takes substantial effort. Especially as you get older, you can’t expect to do the same old thing and see big gains. This means you have two choices.
Option 1: Be content with your current workload and performance level. There is nothing wrong with this, regardless of what your performance level is. As I discussed HERE, you don’t need to be Arnold, and you don’t need to be good at golf.
Option 2: Commit to doing all the things necessary to improving. Work out longer, smarter, and with more intensity. Get your nutrition dialed in. Focus on the thing you want and get it.
Personal bests are rare. When they happen, enjoy them.
For more on breaking plateaus, read THIS
Building Brick by Brick
I know people who work out every day. I know people who go through spurts of manic working out followed by periods of doing nothing. The ones who work out every day are the ones who make gains. Consistency is king.
Consistency is the most important variable if you want to improve. Consistency is more important than having the perfect workout plan. It’s better than having great equipment or cool workout clothes. Consistency even trumps intensity and duration. If you want to get stronger, be consistent.
Enjoy the Process
If you don’t enjoy being in the gym, you’re missing the point. This is your time to focus on and do something for yourself. Whether you’re hitting PRs or just grinding it out, appreciate that you’re lucky to be there.
Editor In Chief at Plugged In Golf
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.